Method and apparatus for surface conditioning metal bodies



March 14, 1950 E. A. DOYLE 2,500,245

mmnon AND APPARATUS FOR SURFACE conm'rxonms METAL BODIES Filed Aug. 9, 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Taomuuo A. DOYLE ATTORNEY March 14, 1950 E. A. DOYLE" 2,500,245

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SURFACE CONDITIONING METAL BODIES Filed Aug. 9, 1944 a Sheets-Sheet 2- u 20 I 5% I g] 7 INVENTOR EDMUND A.DOYLE ATTO R N EY March'l4, 1950 E.VA. DOYLE 2,500,245

, METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SURFACE coummonms METAL BODIES Filed Aug. 9, 1944 6 Sh eets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR 'EDMUND A. DOYLE ATTORNEY March 14, 1950 E. A. DOYLE 5 5 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SURFACE CONDITIONING METAL BODIES Filed Aug. 9, 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 4 INVENTOR I EDMUND A.DOYLE BY 1354 I6 [66 [72 ARE March 14, 1950 Filed Aug. 9, 1944 E. A. DOYLE METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SURFACE CONDITIONING METAL BODIES 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY E. A. DOYLE 2,500,245 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SURFACE CONDITIONING METAL BODIES Filed Aug. 9, 1944 6 Sheets-Sheet 6.

- I 206 Y 1 207 INVENTOTQ EDMUND A. DOYLE ATTORNEY Patented Mar. 14, 1950 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SURFACE CONDITIONING METAL BODIES.

Edmund A. Doyle, New York, N. Y., assignor to The Linde Air Products Company, a corporation of Ohio Application August 9, 1944, Serial'No. 548,752

7 Claims.

This invention relates to methods and apparatus for surface conditioning metal bodies and more particularly for" thermochemically desurfacing cylindrically shaped metal bodies, such as round steel billets, and square or rectangular shaped steel billets and slabs of short lengths The surface-conditioning and desurfacing machines now in use for thermochemically conditioning square or rectangular metal billets or bars of long length are adjustable to the different:

cross-sectional sizes of the metal bodies. Four groups of surface treating blowpipe nozzles, one group for each of the sides of the billet, are arranged so that one end of each group overlaps the side of an adjacent group. Withthe groups adjustable in a plane transverse. 'to the path of travel of the billet, billets of difierent cross-sectional sizes are accommodated by a single machine. The groups of desurfacing nozzles are held longitudinally stationary While the billet is advanced lengthwise through the machine in a direction opposite the general direction of flow of the oxygen jets issuing from the nozzles.

While a machine of this type has proven satisfactory for desurfacing long square or rectangular bi lets, such a machine is generally impracticable for desuriacing round or oval-shaped billets, the principal reason being the difficulty of constructing circular or arcuate desurfacing nOZZleheads with sufiicient radial adjustability to desurface billets of different diameters with the same machine. Hence to have this adjustability for rounded bodies or billets, it becomes necessary to use a machine of a different type.

Further, the above-mentioned desurfacing machines used heretofore for square or rectangular shaped billets are not adapted to desurface square or rectangular shaped billets or slabs of short length. Hence, such billets have had to be desurfaced manually with scarfing blowpipes or mechanical chippers. In customary desurfacers, billets are moved lengthwise through the opening formed by a set of desurfacing heads and it is necessary that the billet supporting rollers be at a substantial distance away from the plane of the heads to leave space for the removal and deflection of the slag projected longitudinally of the billet. Consequently, short billets could not be properly supported and lengths shorter than about 12 feet usually are not desurfaced in such machines.

It is a principal object of the present invention to provide a method of and apparatus for surface conditioning metal bodies which avoids the limitations of the prior methods and apparatus 2. set forth hereinabove, and which is suitable for conditioning rounded bodies of different sizes and any length, rectangular bodies of relatively short length, slabs of short length, and for conditioning separate local areas of metal bodies. Another object of the invention is to provide a method of and apparatus for clesurfacing rounded metal bodies and rectangular metal bodies'of relatively short lengths by advancing the conditioning action in a direction transversely of the longitudinal dimension of the body. It is a further object of the invention to provide a method of and apparatus for surface conditioning a series of rounded metal bodies of the same or successively different diameters and of successively varying lengths. I i Further objects of the present invention are: to provide an apparatus for surface conditioning rounded billets which is adjustable to different diameters of billets, and adapted to accommodate billets of any length and comparable in production efficiency to the conditioning machines which lengthwise condition rectangular billets; to provide a method and apparatus wherein the entire length of a round billet can be desurfaced' upon one revolution of the billet; to provide a method of and apparatus wherein the starting of a desurfacing operation may be facilitated by cutting a starting groove in the billet surface, preferably while the billet is being conveyed into the desurfacing apparatus; and to provide a method and apparatus which is particularly adapted to thermochemically desurface square or rectangular shaped billets or slabs of short lengths and which may be employed for spot desurfacing local areas on the surfaces of metal bodies;

According to one embodiment of the present invention a roller type conveyor moves a rounded billet horizontally and axially into operative relation to the conditioning apparatus that is mounted at a surface conditioning station adjacent one longitudinal side of the conveyor; there a combination pickup and a rotating device, with rollers arranged in a cradle under the billet, elevates the billet from the conveyor, rotates the billet in the elevated position where the billet is subjected to a thermochemical surface conditioning operation, and then lowers the desurfaced billet and replaces it upon the conveyor. The pickup and rotating device holds the billet so that its longitudinal axis remains horizontal and extends parallel to and lengthwise 'of the horizontal conveyor while the billet is elevated, rotated, and lowered. Rotation of the billet is preferably eflected by driving one or more of the cradle rollers.

In one modification of such embodlment, a row of desurfacing streams extends the full length of the billet and the laterally contacting gas streams and flames are directed transversely of the rotating billet and substantially tangentially against its peripheral surface, preferably initially against a flame-cut starting groove which has been cut the full length of the billet while conveying the billet horizontally and lengthwise to the surface conditioning station.

Both the nozzle arrangement and the pickup device are vertically adjusted by fluid-operated actuators and automatically accommodate different diameter billets. The extreme limits of their adjustment is determined by adjustable stops. Upon the billet arriving into substantial tangential alignment with the row of nozzle orifices and with the portions of the surface metal along the starting groove having been brought to an ignition temperature b the substantially continuous wide preheating flame, a substantially continuous wide stream of oxygen is discharged from the row of nozzles and the cradle rollers start rotating the billet in a direction and at a speed about its longitudinal axis to advance successive peripheral portions of the billet toward the gas streams and flames. Where the nozzles extend the full length of the billet, the billet may be completely desurfaced by the elongated gas streams in one turn of the billet in a direction which advances a fulllength peripheral zone of the billet counter to the direction of flow of the gas streams; and a surface layer of 1% to inch in depth is thereby removed from the billet.

In some instances it will not be convenient to have the round billets to be conditioned all of the same length and either shorter than or the same length as the row of nozzles, particularly where successively different lengths of rounded billets are to be conditioned. In such instances the desurfacing is preferably eifected along a helical path on the billet by a nozzle head of less width than the length of the shortest billet. In one modification the desurfacing head may be mounted for vertical floating movement only, and the billet may be simultaneously rotated and advanced lengthwise with respect to the head, so that the desurfacing proceeds in a helical path about the peripheral surface of the billet. Thus billets of any length may be successively desurfaced.

In another modification of such embodiment, the nozzle assembly is carried by a carriage and is driven thereby along ways parallel to the length of the billet to condition a helical path of substantial width upon the surface of the billet being rotated. The apparatus for cutting the starting groove, the roller type conveyor, the pickup and the rotating means may be similar to that above described. The main difference over the firstmentioned modification is that the nozzle travels longitudinally, and the billet is given more than one revolution. Since the nozzle arrangement is relatively wide, the advancement of the carriage can be fast and the desurfacing operation is completed in nearly as short a time as with the firstmentioned form of the invention.

Other embodiments of the invention are provided for the desurfacing of square or rectangular shaped billets or slabs of short length. The same principle, as above described with reference to round shaped billets, of directing the nozzle stream or streams transversely of the long dimension of the workpiece to be scarfed or desurfaced, is employed. These embodiments include arrangements wherein the nozzle streams are moved relatively to the work or wherein the work is moved with respect to the nozzle streams. Suitable means such as vertically extensible fluidopera-ted actuators are used for turning the rectangular billet about its longitudinal axis to present its four faces in succession to the nozzle streams.

For other objects and for a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a cross-sectional view, along line l| of Fig. 2, of a form of desurfacing apparatus for desurfacing rounded billets in which the nozzle arrangement extends the entire length of the billet;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary plan View, partly in cross-section, of the form of the apparatus shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view, along line 3-3 of Fig. 4, of an apparatus in which a wide cutting nozzle assembly is advanced lengthwise of the billet while the billet is rotated through more than one turn to complete the desurfacing operation;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary plan view of the form of apparatus shown in Fig. 3;

Figs. 5 and 6 are respectively elevational and plan views of another form of the invention adapted for desurfacing of slabs or wide plates;

Figs. 7 and 8 are respectively plan and elevational views of another form of the invention adapted for desurfacing the ends of a large plate. wherein Fig. 8 is partly in cross-section and taken along line 8-.-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary View of a section taken along line 9'9 of Fig. 8;

Figs. 10 and 11 are respectively plan and elevational views of still another form of the invention, especially adapted for the handling and desurfacing of square billets of short length; and

Figs. 12 and 13 are respectively plan and elevational views of still another form of the invention also adapted for the handling and desurfacing of square billets but differing from the forms of the invention shown in Figs. 5 to 10 by the showing of an arrangement wherein the billet is moved with respect to a relatively stationary nozzle assembly, instead of the nozzle assembly being moved over the billet.

Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, a roller type conveyor 15, adapted to convey a billet or metal body H3 horizontally and axially into operative relation to the conditioning apparatus, includes a supporting structure I! adapted to be placed on a foundation l8 and a plurality of V-type or hour-glass shaped rollers I9, parallel and coplanar but spaced from one another, and respectively carried on Shafts 20, each having a bevel gear 2! meshing with a bevel gear 22 mounted on a longitudinally extending drive shaft 23. As the rollers I9 are driven b shaft 23, the billet l5 travels axially along the conveyor until it comes to a retractible stop mechanism 24 having a, stop element 25 and a fluid-operated actuator 26. A retractible trailing stop mechanism 2'! similar to the stop mechanism 24 is brought into contact with the rear end of the billet to retain the billet in position for conditioning. This trailing stop mechanism 21 is mounted for longitudinal adjustment on a stationary support 28 whereby billets of different lengths may be retained. The stop mechanism 2'! can be located at any one of a pluseveral adjusting holes in the support 28.

While the billet I6 is being conveyed axially into the conditioning station, a starting groove 3: preferably is out in the top of the billet by a flame machining nozzle s2 located adjacent the rear stop 21. The nozzle 32- is a conventional deseaming or grooving nozzle having a single oxygen jet surrounded by" a row of preheat jets, and. is soarranged as to thermochemically out a groove lengthwise in the surface of the billet of substantially the same depth as the surface layer to be removed from the billet. Thus, the longitudinal groove 31 is automatically formed in the billet surface as the billet is conveyed into operative relation to the conditioning apparatus and a portion of the heat developed by the grooving operation is retained by the billet along the groove. The machining nozzle 32 is mounted so that it follows or rides the surface of the billet while the billet is" supported and carriedby conveyorrollei-s is. The nozzle 32 is preferably ositionable for longitudinally grooving billets of different diameters, has supporting wheels 33 and w to be handled and desurfaced by the apparatus.

Each of: these, pedestals 35 supports a combination pickup and rotating device or cradletli and a portion of a wide nozzle assembly or head 31 which in this form of the invention extends the full length of the billet it. A

The pickup device 36 comprises a bell-crank which includes an, arm 38 having two spaced sections. The bell-crank is pivoted on a shaft 39 extending longitudinally through the several pedestals 35, and is operated by afluid-operated actuator 40. The double-sectionarm 38 extends laterally under the billet l6 and between adjacent rollers it. As the actuator 4!! is operated, the arm 38 swings in a counterclockwise direction about the shaft 39 until its operating arm 4|, within the pedestal and to which the actuator 40 is connected, abuts an adjustable stop 42. The upward movement of arm 38 elevates the billet I6 off the rollers 19 to a position where the flames from the nozzle tips 43 of the nozzle assembly 31 are directed substantially tangentially across the top of the billet and against the side of the starting groove 3 l. The elevation of the arm 38 and of the billet i6 is effected after the forward end of the billet It has been longitudinally positioned by contact with'stop element 25 of the stopmochanism 24. The billet It then rests onspaced pairs of rollers 44 and 45 which are journaled on the two parallel sections of the arm 38, and the billet is then horizontally and rotatably supported by the groups of rollers on the several pickup devices 36.

A chain. and sprocket drivemechanism 59, adapted to rotate the rollers 44 on the pickup arm, rotates the billet. This drive mechanism 59 includes a sprocket 60 fixed on a drive shaft St, a chain 62, and a sprocket 63 on a shaft 64 carrying rollers 44. The drive shaft BI is common to and movable with the several pickup devices and is adapted to be driven by a suitable electric motor or other power means. The several actuators lll are simultaneously energized to lift the billet off of the conveyor rolls l9, and then the electric motor which drives shaft 6| is energized to turnthe billet about its axis to present,

successive surface zones of the billet to the closur facing streams.

The nozzleassembly 31 comprises a series of desu'rfacing nozzles- N lying side by side in a row extending from one end of the billet to the other. Groups of the nozzles N', eachhaving the usual preheating and desurfacing gas outlets, are mounted in multiple nozzle heads. 43 secured side by side to the bottom of a housing 31'. The nozzle heads may be of the type disclosed in United States Patent No. 2,312,418 of A. M. Keller et a1. Those nozzles extending beyond either end of a billet may be disconnected from the gas supply source depending upon the length of the billet. Conduits 46, A! and 4 3 of flexible tubing supply preheating and. desurfacing gases, to the nozzle assembly 37, and are connected respectively to longitudinally-extending distributing pipes 49 carried on brackets to on top of the pedestals 35. The nozzles N thereby are adapted to discharge a wide streamof thermochemical conditioning medium which when directed against the billet surface will remove a layer of metal therefrom.

Pairs of upper and lower parallel links 5!- and 52 serve to pivotally connect the housing 3'!" and the nozzle heads secured thereto to the pedestals 35 for vertical adjustment of the nozzles N toward and away from the billet. The upper links 5| are pivoted to the pedestals 35, as at 55% and each link iii has an armportion 54 which extends rearwardly through an opening 55 in the pedestal and connects with a fluid-operated actuator 56. This nozzle actuator to and the pickup actuator 4-0 are of the double-acting type and both are adapted to receive fluid under pressure from a suitable fluid pressure source, not shown. Fluid pressure is admitted to one end or the other end of the actuators to eifect operation thereof either in one direction or in an opposite direction. By the operation of one or both of the actuators, relative movement between the billet and the nozzle head is effected, one toward the other and in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the billet and in such a way as to position the thermochemical conditioning stream for tangential impingement against a longitudinal zone on the billet surface. The location of the nozzle assembly 3'! in its extreme down position is determined by adjustable stop 51 on. the top of the pedestal 35. Alternatively, the adjustable stop 42 for the pickup device 36 and adjustable stop 51 for the nozzle assembly can be adjusted so as. to permit the location of the pickup device and of the nozzle assembly in a variety of positions. By these adjustments, the apparatus is readily altered to accommodate billets of different diameters.

Preferably, the adjustment of the stops 51' are such that the nozzle assemblies 3"! are permitted to engage and ride the surface of the billet iii. For this purpose, skids or shoes 58 are provided on the bottoms of the nozzle heads til. The nozzle assemblies 3'! may be divided in several units, one for each pedestal, to provide better accommodation of the heads 43 throughout the length of the billet surface. With the nozzle heads 43 riding the billet surface, uniform depth of desurfacing is effected; The nozzle assemblies 3? can thus accommodate automatically billets of oval cross-section and automatically different sizes of round billets. To provide a floating or easy-riding contact of the nozzle shoes on the billet surface, it is preferable to counterbalance partly the weight of the nozzle assembly 3! by suitable adjustment of the fluid pressure in the rod end of the actuator 56. The stops are thus adjusted to be free of the link portions 56 when the nozzle assembly is down in any one of a plurality of working positions. Stops 5! then serve principally to prevent the nozzle as sembly from dropping down too far when the billet is lowered onto the conveyor rollers after the surface conditioning has been completed.

When billet I6 is in the raised operating position, the preheating gases from the nozzle heads 43 may be ignited and directed against a longitudinal edge of the starting groove ti and, when preheating has been effected suiilciently to raise portions of the groove to ignition temperature, the desurfacing action and rotation of the billet are started simultaneously. The billet H5 is automatically raised free of the conveyor to a location under and against the nozzle shoes 58 and is centerlessly rotated about its longitudinal axis by the rollers 44 in the direction of the arrow on Fig. 1.

As the billet is rotated, a layer of surface metal is removed the full length of the billet, and it takes only one turn of the billet to remove an entire cylindrical surface layer. Slag, smoke, etc., resulting from the desurfacing operation is collected in a slag chute 65 having an opening 66 facing the nozzle tips 43. A deeper layer of surface metal may be removed by continuing the rotation of the billet until two or more turns have been made. The depth of metal removed is also dependent upon the rate at which the oxidizing gas is discharged against the surface metal and inversely upon the speed. of relative movement between the desurfacing streams and the work surface.

In the form of the invention shown in Figs. 3 and 4, there is provided the same type of conveyor 15, and similar pickup and rotating devices ll which are supported by a shaft ii mounted in a long carriage bed 12. Each pickup device H may be operated by a fluid-operated actuator 73 which forces a downwardly depending arm i i of the pickup device against an adjustable stop on the bed 12. Several of these pickup devices are located throughout the length of the bed 12, and each pickup device has a double-section arm 16 which is movable with arm M and extends between adjacent rollers Iii of the conveyor l5, so that the several pickup devices operate together to elevate the billet it after the billet has been moved by the conveyor against a retractible stop 11 and retained against rearward axial displacement by a second retractible stop 18. This second stop 18 is mounted on the carriage bed '12 for longitudinal adjustment to accommodate billets of different lengths. Bolts '59 of the stop 18 may be tightened against the carriage bed vertical wall 8! at any position along a slot 52 therein. Alternatively, to automatically desurface billets of successively differentlengths, the stop 18 may be omitted and the rollers its arranged so that their axes are slightly inclined to the longitudinal axis of the billet so that when the rollers turn the billet, the billet will be urged endwise toward the stop TI.

The carriage bed 12 has slideways or tracks 83 and 84 along which travels a carriage 85 supporting a nozzle assembly 86. This nozzle assembly 86 has one or more nozzle heads 8'! but is insufficient in width to extend the full length of the billet, whereupon the billet it must be rotated more than one turn and the nozzle assembly 86 moved along the bed 12 at a rate correlated with the rate of rotation of the billet to complete a desurfacing operation. Because there are several nozzles in the assembly and from which several gas streams issue, which merge side-by-side to form a wide desurfacing stream, the travel speed of the carriage can be faster thanif only a single nozzle with a narrow stream is used, and when accompanied with the abovedescribed billet manipulating devices, production is at a greater rate and the work is more satisfactorily finished than is possible with a single nozzle machine. Similarly to the machine shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the nozzle heads 8! have shoes or skids 88 adapted to support the nozzle assembly on the billet surface.

The carriage is moved along the bed by suitable means such as a chain 89 extendin between spaced sprockets 9i and 92 located respectively at opposite ends of bed 72. An electric motor 95, through reduction gear unit 93, drives the shaft 94 and the sprocket 9i secured thereto. Suitable electrical control equipment (not shown) is provided to control the operation of electric motor 95. v

A starting groove equivalent in length only to the width of the nozzle assembly 86 may be cut lengthwise in the billet by a flame-machining nozzle 96 asthe billet is moved by the conveyor it? toward the stop 11. This machining nozzle is arranged to ride the surface of the billet for a distance equivalent to the width of the nozzle assembly 86. The nozzle 96 is carried on a movable arm 9l, hinged at 98 to a bracket 99 on the carriage bed 12 for vertical movement with respect to the billet. The arm 9'! and its nozzle 96 in their operating position are supported on the billet by wheels Illl. When the required length of starting groove is made in the billet, usually equivalent in length to the Width of the nozzle assembly, the machining nozzle is moved vertically upwardly out of the way.

A chain and sprocket mechanism I62 drives the pair of pickup rollers N33 to rotate the billet in the direction of the curved arrow as shown. There are several drive mechanisms Hi2, one on each pickup device and all of them are operated by a common shaft I04 connected with drive shaft 94 by means of bevel gearing Hi5 and flexible shaft coupling device lllfi. The device I86 preferably includes two universal joints between which is a portion including an axially expansible coupling of the customary type. The bevel gearing N35 is of such ratio as to provide one turn of the billet about its longitudinal axis each time the nozzle assembly 86 advances a distance equal to its width The carriage 65 and nozzle assembly 86 moves toward the rear end of the billet or stop 18 thereby helically removing a layer of surface metal from the billet.

The nozzle assembly 86 receives gases through flexible hose connections IE3! anchored to a bracket I08 on the top of the carriage and is adjustably connected to the carriage 85 by pairs of upper and lower parallel links Hill and iii. Upper links I09 extend rearwardly of a pivot H2 and into the carriage 85 to provide an operating arm M3 for connection with a fluidoperated actuator HQ. This actuator i l is pivoted on trunnions H5 suspended by brackets H6 depending from the top of the carriage In the extreme down position of the nozzle assembly 86, operating arm H3 engages adjustable stop ill. During a desurfacing operation, the arm H3 normally is spaced from the stop ll! so that the nozzle assembly rides freely on the billet surface. Part of the weight of the nozzle assembly, while the latter engages the billet; may be balanced by the actuator I I4 or a separate counterbalancing means may be employed.

Because of the relatively fast endwise movement of the nozzle assembly 86 along the billet, it is desirable to have the nozzles in the heads 81 oriented toward. the direction of endwise movement so that the gas streams are projected obliquely but tangentially across the billet surface, and in alignment with the helical path along 1 the billet surface. However, by having the nozzles not fully oriented into alignment with the helical path on the billet, it is possible to obtain more complete removal of the billet surface by starting the desurfacing with only one or a few of the end nozzles of the assembly 36 impinging against the billet surface, the rest of the nozzles extending beyond the starting end of the billet. By starting in this manner, the slag produced by the first nozzles will effect surface ignition for the desurfacing streams of the remaining nozzles as they move onto the billet surface and no undesurfaced area will be formed at the starting end of the billet. Such starting procedure will furthermore require only a very short starting groove or eliminate the need of such groove and of the nozzle 96 altogether.

Desurfacing a billet helically can also be effectively accomplished by an alternative mechanism in which the nozzle device is not movable longie tudinally of the billet, for example the carriage 85' may be fixed. Also no pickup devices ll need be provided but the main conveyor may be arranged with supporting rollers in cradle lilie arrangement but having their axes related at a transverse angle to the axis of the billet. Such conveyor rollers not only turn the billet but also move it forwardly and cause it to move in a helical path. With such conveyor rollers the billet is merely moved along until its starting end reaches a starting position with respect to the nozzles, the heads 8? are lowered into contact with the billet, preheating is accomplished, and when the cutting oxygen is turned on, the conveyor is operated to move the billet in a helical path with respect to the nozzle heads at a uniform desurfacing speed.

Referring to Figs. 5 and 6, there is shown an apparatus embodying principles of this invention and adapted for desurfacing metal plates. A metal plate IE6 is supported on a roller conveyor I22 having laterally spaced rollers I23 respectively adapted to be driven by a drive shaft I24 having bevel gears I25 which mesh with, respectively, similar bevel gears 526 on the ends of the extended axles IZ'I of rollers I23. In order that one edge of the slab I2I may overhang the conveyor rollers to provide a clear path for disposal of the surface conditioning products, the left ends of the rollers I23 are supported on rollers I28 arranged in cradle fashion.

Associated with the conveyor I22 are manipulator arms I29 and Hill which are respectively operated by fluid-operated cylinders BI and I32 and are hinged on pivot shafts I33 and I34. When the cylinder I32 is extended to hold arm I30 vertical and cylinder it l is energized, the arm I29 is pivoted about shaft I33 and plate I2 I is turned to the right about its right edge. The arms I30 now receive the plate and are lowered slightly. When the fluid cylinder I3I is retracted the arm I 29 is lowered in a counterclockwise direction to allow the plate to slide leftward along the conveyor rollers and down the arm I30 and onto the rollers so as to lie with the original top face down and bearing upon the rollers in the position shown. When this operation. has been completed the manipulator arms I29 and I36 are retracted to the horizontal position so as not to lie in the path of a wide nozzle assembly or head I35 which moves to the left and across the top of the plate. A suitable manipulator is that described in U. S. Patent No. 2,271,213 of W. C. Weidner et a1. Slag and smoke are collected in a slag chute E3? on the left side of the conveyor and facing the nozzle streams.

The nozzle assembly I35 which may extend the full length of the slab or plate is carried by rearwardly extending arms I36 which are connected by parallel links 38 to a supporting frame I39 for vertical movement toward and away from the plate I2 I. This vertical movement is effected by means of a fluid-operated actuator I40 connected at I4I to the middle of a cross bar I42 forming part of the nozzle assembly and to a horizontal supporting arm I43 to the end of which the frame I39 is secured.

In order to locate the nozzle assembly I35 in a proper starting position with respect to the righthand edge of the plate I2I so that the flames from the nozzles will impinge on the corner of the plate, guiding means is provided in the form of a pair of arms I44 extending forwardly from the head I35 which arms have rollers E45. at their forward ends for engaging and riding the top of the plate to support the head I35 at the proper level irrespective of the thickness of the plate.

Thev supporting arm I43 is adapted to be moved horizontally and transversely over the conveyor from a platform Mt by a motor I4! driving reduction gear I 40, output sprockets and chain I49, and a pinion gear I50 meshing with a rack I5I secured along the bottom of the arm I43. The arm I43 is slidable horizontally through the platform I45. The motor I4! is of the reversible type whereby arm I43 can be similarly withdrawn to the inoperative position. With the supporting arm I43 travelling outwardly to the left and with the nozzle assembly properly positioned by the fluid cylinder I40 and the guide arms I44 so as to ride on the top of plate I2 I, a desurfacing operation is effected upon the top face of the plate I 21 from one side. edge to the other side edge. Upon completion of this operation the nozzle assembly I35 is retracted upwardly by the cylinder I40 and the arm I43 with the nozzle assembly thereon is withdrawn rearwardly.

The nozzle assembly supporting mechanism is carried on a movable carriage I52 which is con-- nected by upwardly extending parallel links I53 and I54 pivoted between the platform I 46 and the carriage. The carriage i522 is adapted to be driven by a propelling motor I54a along tracks I55 extending parallel to the conveyor I 22. l-Iorizontal and. vertical retraction of the platform I46 and the nozzle assembly is effected b a fluid actuator I56 pivoted at E5? to the carriage and connected at I58 to the bottom of the platform I46. Extension of the fluid actuator E55 causes pivotal movement of the parallel links I53 and I54 so that the platform I46 and the various parts thereon are swung away from the conveyor 01 adjusted vertically with respect to the carriage I52. 'In its operating position, the platform is retained by virtue of link I54 resting against an adjustable stop screw I59 which may be varied to provide a rough adjustment depending upon the thickness of plate IZI to be desurfaced, An-

11 other stop I59 may be provided to prevent movement of the platform too far to the right. A brake device I66 secures the carriage I52 to the track I55.

To desurface a plate I2I of the same length as the nozzle assembly I35, the apparatus is positioned as shown in solid lines in Fig. 5. The heating fiame produced by the row of nozzles in the assembly I35 is applied to the upper corner of the right edge of the plate and when such corner is heated to the ignition temperature the desurfacing oxygen is turned on and impinges obliquely against the plate surface. The motor I4! is energized to move the arm I43 outward at a uniform desurfacing speed to advance the nozzle assembly completely across the plate in a direction perpendicular to its length dimension. After the nozzles move a sufficient distance forward, the assembly I35 will ride on the plate.

The slag produced by the desurfacing reaction flows across the top of the plate and spills over the left edge into the slag chute I31 which also catches and deflects particles of slag projected forward by the desurfacing streams. After one side is desurfaced, the nozzle assembly is retracted, as previously described, for a sufficient distance to the right to allow the manipulator arms to swing upward and turn the plate over for treatment on its opposite side. If a plate longer than the nozzle assembly is to be conditioned, more than one desurfacing operation is performed on the same surface, for example by either moving the plate along the conveyor I22 to a new position or by moving the carriage I52 along the rails I55 to a new position. The manipulator arms I 29 and I36 need not be located as shown but can be located in a manipulator station at a different section of the conveyor and the plate moved into such manipulator station when it is desired to overturn it.

Referring now to Figs. '7 and 8, there are shown mechanisms similar to that just described in connection with Figs. and 6, except that there are a pair of nozzle assemblies I6I and I62, instead of the single long nozzle assembly I35, and which are respectively and simultaneously adapted to condition the spaced ends of the plate I2I. These nozzle assemblies I6I and I62 are respectively moved to and from their desurfacing positions by individual fluid-operated actuators I63 and I64, and are secured by means of a transverse bar I65 and the parallel links I38 to the frame I33 supported by the laterally movable supporting arm I43. As indicated more clearly in Fig. 9,

the nozzle assembly I62 is supported for horizontal movement by parallel links I66 connected to a downwardly extending bracket I61 of a boxlike slider I68 on the beam I65. The slider I 68 carries a screw I69 for locking it in an adjustable position along the beam I65. The cylinder I64 is mounted between a bracket I16 and a lever I'II that is pinned to a vertical shaft I12. The shaft I72 is rotatably held in bearings I'I3 on the bracket I61 and extends through the ends of a pair of the links I66 to which it is also secured. The cylinder I64 thus rotates the shaft I12 which swings the links I66 and moves the assembly I62 toward or away from the end surface of the plate I2l.

The lower surface of the rollers I45 are preferably located at the same level as the upper ends of the nozzle assemblies I6I and I62 in order that the nozzles will always be correctly positioned irrespective of the thickness of the plate. Those nozzles that extend below the plate edge are not supplied with gas during operation. The desurfacing operation is effected as the supporting arm I43 with the nozzle assemblies thereon is extended across the plate to the opposite edge thereof. When the opposite edge is reached, the nozzle assemblies are retracted by their actuators I63 and I64 and the supporting arm I43 is withdrawn to its rearward or retracted position.

Referring now to Figs. 10 and 11, there is shown another embodiment of the invention which utilizes a manipulating mechanism particularly adaptable for handling a billet I Illa of square cross-section. Such billets are rotated one-fourth turn (90) while on a roller conveyor Illa after each desurfacing operation performed by a nozzle assembly I'lZa. The nozzle assembly Il2a is similar to the assembly I of Figs. 5 and 6 and is carried upon the supporting frame member I39 on the arm I43 supported for horizontal movement in platform I46 carried by carriage I52! operable over tracks I55. Skids Ilsa support the nozzle assembly and ride on the billet surface being conditioned, to position the assembly for starting at the corner of the billet.

Underneath rollers I23 of the conveyor His, is a billet turning mechanism including a ver tically extending fluid-operated actuator II' l connected to one arm of a lever IE5, the other arm of which is formed to provide a pusher element I76 adapted to engage a bottom face of the billet at its left edge so that upon the pusher element I16 being moved upwardly, the billet is turned to the right, about its lower right-hand edge and in the direction of the arrow, to present a new face to the nozzle assembly llila. Once the billet has been turned it assumes a position shown by the broken lines H6 and is finally moved to the left against stops I16 by a pusher bar lfii. The stops I19 are secured to portions of the conveyor frame I'IIa.

The pusher bar ISI is secured to the horizontal piston rods I82 of a pair of fluid-operated actuators I83 that are supported by brackets I64 extending from the frame of the conveyor l'i Ia. The lateralmovement is effected after retraction of the pusher element I16 of the manipulator. When in this position against the stops lit, the billet is ready to be desurfaced on its newly upper-- most face. The desurfacing movement is effected by operation of the electric motor I-l'i the extension of supporting arm I63 as previously described. The nozzle assembly 512a, as in the other machines, may be positioned longitudinally along the billet by operation of the carriage i512 along the tracks I or the billet may be shifted longitudinally. Slag and smoke are collected by slag chute I3'I.

Referring now to Figs. 12 and 13, there is shown an apparatus wherein an elongated nozzle assembly or head I is not moved laterally during the desurfacing operation but the billet is moved. The nozzle assembly IEI has work-contacting skids I92 and is supported for vertical movement by parallel links I63 at the end of an overhanging frame arm I94. The upper links i263 are fixed through a horizontal shaft to a rearwardiy extending arm I95, the end of which is pivotally connected to a fluid-operated actuator I36 also pivoted on the arm 94. The actuator I36 may be operated to assume some of the weight of nozzle assembly I9I so as to eliminate excessive friction between the nozzle assembly and the top face of the billet I'Ell on which it rides during the desurfacing operation or a separate counterbalancing means may be used.

When a billet surface is. to be; conditioned, the billet is in the position shown by the broken lines 19f in Fig. 12 and issupported by two hook members 11% which have portions engaging the left side of the billet and base portions I99 on which the billet rests. The billet is pushed sidewise into the position i 91 from the rollers 2th by a pusher device hereinafter described. The hook members 193 are positioned between rollers Zllil of the conveyor Zlll and have shank portions 202 extending crosswise; of the conveyor to its right side. The shanks 202 have rack teeth 293 along their lower edges for'engagement, with pinions 20 i mounted on a horizontal shaft 205 that is coupled to the output shaft of a speed reducer 206 driven by a motor 207. Rollers 2'08 engage the upper surfaces of the shanks 252 to. maintain the racks-in engagement with the pinions, such rollers 268 being mounted in rockable links Zita The hook members are supported on a series of rollers if I mounted on suitably shaped transverse frame members M2. The shape of the frame members is such that as the hook members are moved to the right they move horizontally at first and then drop to a lower level that causes the billet to bev entirely supported on the rollers 2M. As the hook members drop to the lower level, they swing about the axis of the pinions 204. The hook members slide the billet along the conveyor rolls until it is in contact with the may be employed; for example as shown, there is provided a pair of vertically mounted fluidoperated actuators 2M having upwardly extendable piston rods 2l5 positioned to engage the bottom of the billet near the right side of the billet when in the position H3. The rods 2&5 are; preferably guided and laterally supported by a frame 2H5. When the actuators 21 are operated by fluid pressure, they move the rods 1H5 upward and the billet is rotated counterclockwise one-quarter turn, the hook members I98 having been moved leftward a short distance, The rods 215. are then retracted and the actuators I83 are energized to move the pusher bar I BI to the left and push the billet along the conveyor rollers and onto the hook members until the extreme left position lt'lis reached. The billet is now ready to be desurfaced on the side which is now uppermost. In the position E9! the skids let hold the nozzles in the correct relation to the top surface and in, position to apply the heating flame and wide desurfacing stream along the top edge of the billet. When the desurfacing stream is turned on, the motor 2B! is energized to cause the hook members I98 to carry the billet at a uniform speed toward the right. The slag produced is collected in the customary manner by the chute I31.

While the principles of this invention may be employed to efficiently condition the surfaces of both cold and hot ferrous metal bodies, by arranging the conditioning machines in operative relation to conventional conveyor rolls of steel mills, it will be evident that the ferrous metal bodies may be successively conditioned without special handling and whil they are at a high temperature and in transit from one steel mill rolling or other processing apparatus to the next processing apparatus. Various changes may be made in the construction of the apparatus and in the methods disclosed herein without departing 14 from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In an apparatus for surface conditioning rounded metal bars of different diameters, a roller-type conveyor for moving; a bar axially to a position within the apparatus; stop means for limiting the extent of travel of the bar on the conveyor and for retaining the, bar against axial displacement when being conditioned; a. conditioning nozzle assembly adapted to direct. a surface conditioning stream against the bar surface; a. pickup device extending between adjacent rollers of the conveyor for elevating the metal bar from the conveyor into. operative position adjacent the, nozzle assembly; means, for rotating the rounded metal bar when in its elevated position to complete the conditioning operation upon the metal bar; said conditioning nozzle assembly and/or the pickup device being adjustable so that the apparatus can condition surfaces of metal bars, of different diameters.

2., In an apparatus for surface conditioning cylindrically-shaped metalbod-ies, aroller-type conveyor for moving a metal body in an axial direction to a position withinv the apparatus; a nozzle assembly adapted to, directa surface conditioning stream against the body surface;- pickup means extendingbetweenadjacentrollers of the conveyor for elevatingthe metal body from the. conveyor to an operative position beneath the nozzle assembly; and means carried by the pickup device for rotating the metal body with respect to the nozzle assembly to'effect the conditioning of substantially the entire metal body surface.

3. In an apparatus for surface conditioning cylindrically shaped metal bodies, a, roller-type conveyor for moving a metal body lengthwise to a position within the apparatus, a nozzle assembly adapted to direct a surface conditioning stream against the body surface; pickup means, extending between adjacent rollers of the conveyor for elevating the metal body from the conveyor to. an operative position beneath the nozzle assembly; said pickup means. including two sets,

of rollers extending at right angles to the conveyor rollers and arranged to make cradlelike engagement with the metal body, a drive mechanism for driving at least one of the: rollers of said pick up means to rotate the metal' body With respect to the nozzle assembly when free of the conveyor and to effect the conditioning ofthe entire surface of the metal body.

4. In the art of thermochemically desurfacing elongated ferrous metal bodies while they are in transit from one processing apparatusto the next processing apparatus, the" method which comprises conveying each body lengthwise upon a horizontal roll conveyor from a processing apparatus to a thermochemical desurfacing station located adjacent said r011 conveyor and between the ends thereof; at said station interrupting the lengthwise movement of each body; directing a thermochemical desurfacing gas stream obliquely against a surface of such interrupted body and in a direction transversely of said roll conveyor, to discharge resulting slag and molten metal products laterally from said conveyor and in a direction lengthwise of but not against the rolls of said conveyor; turning such interrupted body at said station about an axis extending substantially parallel to and longitudinally of said conveyor, to present successive portions of said surface to such transversely directed gas stream; collecting such resulting products when the same are discharged laterally from said conveyor; and thereafter conveying the desurfaced body on said conveyor away from said station and toward the next processing apparatus.

5. In an apparatus for surface conditioning metal bar and billet stock of different cross-sectional dimensions, a roller-type conveyor for moving a workpiece of said stock axially to a position within the apparatus; stop means for limiting the extent of travel of said workpiece on the conveyor and for retaining it against axial displacement while being surface conditioned; a surface conditioning nozzle assembly adapted to direct a surface conditioning stream against the workpiece surface; a pickup device extending between adjacent rollers of the conveyor for elevating said workpiece from the conveyor into operative position adjacent the nozzle assembly; means for rotating the workpiece when in its elevated position to complete the surface con- L ditioning operation thereon; said conditioning nozzle assembly and the pickup device being adjustable in respect to each other so that the apparatus can condition workpieces of different cross-sectional dimensions.

6. Apparatus for desurfaoing ferrous metal workpieces comprising, in combination, a horizontal conveyor for conveying elongated ferrous metal workpieces lengthwise in succession and horizontally to and away from a desurfacing station located adjacent said conveyor and between the ends thereof; means for interrupting the lengthwise movement of each workpiece when it has been conveyed to said station by said conveyor; desuriacing nozzle means mounted at said station adjacent one longitudinal side of said conveyor, said nozzle means having gas passages constructed and arranged to direct an oxy-thermal metal-removing agent transversely of said conveyor and against a surface of a workpiece at said station; workpiece turning means for turning such workpiece relatively to both said nozzle means and said conveyor and about a horizontal axis extending longitudinally of said conveyor, to present successive peripheral surface portions of such workpiece to such transversely directed metal-removing agent; and a slag-receiving chute mounted adjacent the other longitudinal side of said conveyor and having its entrance substantially horizontally opposite said nozzle means to receive slag and other products resulting from the action of said metal-removing agent when directed against a workpiece and transversely of said conveyor.

7. Surface conditioning apparatus comprising, in combination, a horizontal conveyor for conveying elongated metal workpieces lengthwise in succession and horizontally to and away from a ther mal surface conditioning station located adjacent said conveyor and between the ends thereof; groove cutting means arranged above said conveyor for cutting a longitudinally extending starting groove in the uppermost surface portion of each workpiece as it is carried horizontally on and lengthwise of said conveyor toward said station; means for interrupting the lengthwise movement of each workpiece when it has been conveyed to said station and when said groove cutting means has completed the cutting of a starting groove; nozzle means mounted at said station and alongside a portion of said conveyor, said nozzle means having gas passages constructed and arranged to first direct an oxy-thermal metal-removing agent against and transversely of such longitudinal starting groove to begin a surface conditioning operation on a workpiece interrupted at said station; and workpiece turning means at said station for turning a workpiece about its longitudinal axis and relatively to said nozzle means to complete such surface conditioning operation peripherally of said workpiece.

EDMUND A. DOYLE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,861,923 Jones June 7, 1932 1,879,850 Klopp Sept. 27, 1932 2,030,842 Anderson Feb. 18, 1936 2,035,765 Schmidt Mar. 31, 1936 2,125,175 Jones July 26, 1938 2,125,178 Ullmer July 26, 1938 2,125,179 Doyle July 26, 1938 2,157,313 Alles et al May 9, 1939 2,203,211 Bucknam June 4, 1940 2,230,336 Taylor et a1 Feb. 4, 1941 2,236,743 Anderson Apr. 1, 1941 2,288,027 Scheller June 30, 1942 2,295,523 Bucknam et al Sept. 8, 1942 2,317,239 Yoch Apr. 20, 1943 2,323,974 Bucknam et al July 13, 1943 2,334,250 Cassens et al Nov. 16, 1943 OTHER REFERENCES Metal Progress, May 1936, pages 35-38 inclusive.

Oxy-acetylene Groove Cutting, pub. by Linde Air Products Co., New York city, copyright 1942, page 10 of 11 pages. 

